Friday, September 18, 2009

Killing 2 Birds with 1 Stone

Entering Atlanta for a 3 game series against the 2nd place Braves is a big deal this time of the year. The Phillies seem to be in control of the NL East, but regardless of how secure you think their grasp on the division is, it remains up for grabs. The Braves are 7.5 games back and could conceivably be only 4.5 back after Sunday. On the flip side the Phillies really only have to win 1 game to keep this a comfortable lead, because they'd still leave Atlanta up 6.5 on the Braves. Essentially winning one game is like a two-fer...killing 2 birds with 1 stone. Should the Phillies take the series, they'd be up 8.5 games, or sweep and be 10.5 games up on the Braves. Meanwhile, the Marlins are facing the Reds for 3 more games (lost to Cincinnati last night in the 1st game of a 4 game series).

Those are some supreme clashes right there. Happ is coming off a minor injury, while Hudson is still building arm strength. Pedro has been amazing, while Vazquez is a strikeout machine. Lee has made me nearly forget about ever wanting Halladay, while Hanson is a stud rookie.~Carson